A COUPLE who were forced to close their business selling stock for cheap prices say they got it "completely wrong" as people await refunds from November.

In November 2022, Nicola Forster, 39, and her partner Charlotte Staines, 30, set up ‘Half Price or Less Wirral’ as a side-line business.

Half Price or Less Wirral dealt with end-of-line stock, such as paddleboards, rollerskates and heated blankets being sold for a fraction of the retail price.

After a few months in business on January 24, Nic and Charlotte put out a statement on Half Price or Less Wirral's Facebook page confirming the business was closing down.

The post said: "When we started this we wanted to offer a way to help during difficult times but it grew quicker than anticipated and with issues with stock deliveries we have been completely overwhelmed.

"Refunds will be processed in due course for any items that are returned damaged or that have not arrived though stock delivery issues - the information for this will be processed via messages or through a list compiled in the shop and passed to the management team to process in due course."

Read more on this story > Meet the couple helping people in the community save money this winter

Since this, dozens of comments have been circulating social media, with many customers still awaiting refunds, frustrated that they are getting no response from the couple.

One comment said: "My refund is from November and December.

"Had messages promising it would be in that day, and obviously just empty promises. Had enough of waiting.

"Just bad business management, considering they run multiple other businesses."

Another wrote: "I've been blocked from their page because I asked for a refund...they promised me it had been processed before 22nd Dec, then blocked me. Nothing received from them!"

One said: "I am still waiting messaged them again last week just excuse after excuse I have sent bank details again been waiting since November supposed to be for Christmas what I ordered."

"I purchased a heated airer and they supplied me with the wrong one, so I requested a refund, then waited and waited for them to collect and refund as promised. 

"Didn't show and ignored messages. So I went there and finally got money back, (however she was too busy to actually see me). Next, I was blocked from the site", another said.

Comment from the business

Yesterday (March 21) the couple put out another post confirming that "just under 3k of refunds have gone out this week and calculations show that there is around £1,500 more" which will be distributed before the business is dissolved.

The post continues: "Obviously, we completely understand your frustrations. But as we have said all along, we are trying our best as quickly as we can. 

"We have already held our hands up and said that we got this completely wrong, we didn't have the infrastructure, nor the storage to execute this business properly, as it went huge so quickly.

"We have done everything we could to fix issues as we could, I know you may think we are just sitting on piles of money, but that's not the case at all - this business has cost everything, financially, emotionally and physically.

"At the end of the day we are two humans, we care, we set this up to help and we got it completely wrong."

In a comment to the Globe, Nic added: "We are unable to comment on individual cases, however, customers affected are invited to reach out to us with any concerns they may have and we will continue to have an active page until all issues are resolved."

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